Highlanders on Highland culture!

**SoulFyre777** · 12th March 10, 06:55 PM

Inspired by arguably the best thread of the year and a very interesting little factoid I read in a book called Mysterious Scotland by Michael Balfour, I thought I would start a thread to bring into my life a little more of the culture and 'secrets' of Scotland. To begin, here's the excerpt I read:

"Scots believe that if they die when they are abroad, their souls return to the land of their birth through underground passages, with caves as resting places along the way. This is the 'low road' mentioned in the famous song 'The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomon''. It is held that the song is in fact a conversation between two prisoners, one of whom is due to be executed; the other will soon be free to return by the high road, which is to say an ordinary road."

If this is indeed true, I find it very interesting and I feel that it brings me just a little bit closer to understanding some of the smaller nuances of Scottish culture. There was also mention in the same book that the Christmas hymn, "O, Come All Ye Faithful" was likely penned as a coded rallying cry to Jacobite supporters! I love discovering these little treasures of character! So, speaking to those living in Scotland or anyone who has spent any time in the culture there, what other nuggets of Scottish wisdom, legend and/or lore can this Yank glean to better understand my ancestors' homeland and the people therein?

(As an aside, if anyone is familiar with Geddes MacGregor, I LOVE his book, 'Scotland: An Intimate Portrait'! Talk about learning about a culture, it would seem to me that this guy really captures the spirit of Scotland and it's inhabitants! Any other opinions of his work from those closer to his source?)

Thanks!